WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has repealed key elements of a proposed rule that would have increased the minimum allowable catch size for Gulf of Maine lobster, a move that lobstermen argued would have caused severe economic harm.
The decision, announced Tuesday, follows opposition from Maine and New Hampshire officials, who refused to cooperate with the proposed changes. The two states account for the majority of U.S. lobster landings.
“NEFSA thanks the commission for heeding the voice of lobstermen,” said Dustin Delano, COO of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA). “Raising catch sizes at this time would bankrupt many lobstermen and surrender the U.S. market to foreign competitors.”
NEFSA led opposition to the proposed increase, arguing that it would have removed a key portion of the American lobster supply at a time when operating costs are already high. The group warned that reducing domestic landings would primarily benefit Canadian lobstermen, who face fewer regulatory restrictions.
NEFSA said it plans to continue working with state officials as fishermen and processors determine the best path forward for managing the fishery.
The ASMFC’s reversal marks a victory for New England’s lobstermen, who argued that the proposed change threatened both their livelihoods and the region’s seafood industry.
